Revenue from biopreservation media product sales for the second quarter of 2018 reached a new record of $5.2 million, an increase of 102% from the second quarter of 2017, and an increase of 36% from the first quarter of 2018. Revenue from biopreservation media product sales for the first half of 2018 totaled $9.0 million, an increase of 83% compared with the prior-year period. Product revenue growth for both periods was driven by sales of CryoStor® and HypoThermosol® clinical-grade biopreservation media to the high-growth cell and gene therapy segment, and to BioLife's worldwide distributor network.

Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Gross margin for the second quarter of 2018 increased to 70% from 63% in the second quarter of 2017, due to higher average selling prices per liter, and reduced COGS per liter resulting from higher production volume driven by increased sales of CryoStor to the regenerative medicine market segment.

Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2018 were $2.4 million, compared with $1.9 million for the second quarter of 2017, reflecting higher performance-based compensation expense and increased expenditures related to enhancing our quality management system.

Operating profit for the second quarter of 2018 was $1.3 million, compared with an operating loss of $341,000 for the second quarter of 2017.

Net income attributable to common stockholders for the second quarter of 2018 was $1.0 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared with a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $768,000, or $0.06 per share, for the second quarter of 2017.

EBITDA for the second quarter of 2018 was positive $1.2 million compared with negative $514,000 for the second quarter of 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2018 was $1.7 million compared with $59,000 for the second quarter of 2017.

Cash provided by operations for the second quarter of 2018 was $562,000, compared with cash used by operations of $103,000 for the prior-year period.

Cash balance at June 30, 2018 was $14.2 million compared with $2.3 million at June 30, 2017, and $6.7 million at December 31, 2017.

Mike Rice, BioLife President & CEO, commented, "In Q2, we demonstrated our ability to efficiently manage the business during a sustained high-growth phase. We continued to see strong demand for our proprietary products in the cell and gene therapy segment, and expect this to continue for the next several quarters based on awareness of our products in this market segment and the number of new clinical trials in process by our customers."

Gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased to 68% from 62% in the same period last year, due to higher average selling prices per liter, and reduced COGS per liter resulting from higher production volume, driven by increased sales of CryoStor to the regenerative medicine market segment.

Operating expenses for the first six months of 2018 were $4.7 million, compared with $3.8 million for the same period in 2017, reflecting higher performance-based compensation expense and increased expenditures related to enhancing our quality management system.

Operating profit for the first half of 2018 was $1.4 million, compared with an operating loss of $805,000 for the first half of 2017.

Net income attributable to common stockholders for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $943,000, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared with a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $1.6 million, or $0.13 per share, for the same period in 2017.

EBITDA for the first six months of 2018 was positive $1.3 million compared with negative $1.1 million for same period in 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $2.3 million compared with $15,000 for the prior year period.

Cash provided by operations for first six months of 2018 was $953,000, compared with cash used by operations of $272,000 for the prior-year period.

Roderick de Greef, BioLife Chief Financial Officer, remarked, "Our second quarter financial results mark the first time since inception that BioLife has achieved positive net income, underscoring the operating leverage we can realize on higher revenue levels. Given our strong financial results for the first half of 2018 and our outlook for the remainder of the year, we now expect 2018 to be our first full year of profitability."

2018 Financial Guidance

Management provided 2018 financial guidance as follows:

Affirmed guidance for biopreservation media revenue to be between $18.5 million and $20.0 million, representing growth of 68% to 82% over 2017.

Revised guidance for gross margin to be between 68% and 70%, up from prior guidance of 63% to 65% and up from 61% in 2017.

Revised guidance for operating expenses to between $9.5 million to $10.0 million, up from $9.0 million to $9.5 million and compared with $7.8 million in 2017.

The Company will host a conference call and live webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET this morning. To access the live webcast, please go to www.biolifesolutions.com and click on the top banner, or directly at www.biolifesolutions.com/earnings/. Alternatively, you may access the live conference call by dialing (844) 825-0512 (U.S. & Canada) or (315) 625-6880 (International) with the following Conference ID: 4968357. A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours after the call and will be archived on www.biolifesolutions.com for 90 days.

About BioLife Solutions

BioLife Solutions is the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of proprietary clinical grade cell and tissue hypothermic storage and cryopreservation freeze media for cells and tissues. Our proprietary HypoThermosol® and CryoStor® platform of solutions are highly valued in the regenerative medicine, biobanking and drug discovery markets. Our biopreservation media products are serum-free and protein-free, fully defined, and are formulated to reduce preservation-induced cell damage and death; offering commercial companies and clinical researchers significant improvement in shelf life and post-preservation viability and function.

Except for historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the company's anticipated future growth strategy, including the acquisition of synergistic cell and gene therapy manufacturing tools and services or technologies, anticipated business and operations, guidance for financial results in 2018, including achieving GAAP operating profit, net income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and cash flow from operations, the potential utility of and market for its products and services, potential revenue growth and market expansion, regulatory approvals and/or commercial manufacturing of our customers' products, and potential customer revenue. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including among other things, uncertainty regarding market adoption of products; uncertainty regarding third-party market projections; market volatility; competition; litigation; and those other factors described in our risk factors set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein or to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof, other than as may be required by applicable law.

Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

BioLife's management believes that the non-GAAP measure of "EBITDA" and "Adjusted EBITDA" enhances an investor's understanding of the Company's financial and operating performance and its future prospects by being more reflective of core operating performance. BioLife's management uses this financial metric for strategic decision making, forecasting future financial results, and evaluating current period financial and operating performance. The presentation of non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be reviewed in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is included in the financial tables in this press release.